The government has expanded its plans to store and monitor Twitter, Facebook and other personal web communication data, but these are being created without official ISP involvement, according to an ISP representative body.

Under the plans, police and intelligence operatives will gain access
to records of who has talked to whom on social networks, on instant
messaging services, and in online multi-player games. The monitoring
and storage are expected to be handled by ISPs, but the government's
plans have not been officially shared with these companies, according
to the Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA).

"It is important that proposals to update government's capabilities to intercept and retain communications data in the new communications environment are proportionate, respect freedom of expression and the privacy of users, and are widely consulted upon in an open and transparent manner," the ISPA said in a statement on Monday.

The government will publish its web intercept plans by the end of
April 2012 and wants legislation by the end of June 2015, according to
Home Office documents published in January. After lobbying by the
security services, ministers have decided to set aside legislative
time for the CCDP via the Queen's Speech in May, The Daily Telegraph said in
a report on Saturday.

However, the Home Office declined to confirm this, saying only that
legislation is on the cards.
"We will legislate as soon as parliamentary time allows to ensure that
the use of communications data is compatible with the Government's
approach to civil liberties," a Home Office spokesperson told ZDNet
UK.

The Home Office also stressed that it canvasses opinion from
communications providers on its plans.
"It is vital that police and security services are able to obtain
communications data in certain circumstances to investigate serious
crime and terrorism and to protect the public," the Home Office
spokesperson said. "We meet regularly with the communications industry
to ensure that capability is maintained without interfering with the
public's right to privacy."

Expanding remit

"The government seems to be looking at expanding its [interception] remit, but this is not something we've been directly told," an ISPA spokesman told ZDNet UK on Monday. "We'd hope for some kind of cost recovery."

Costs associated with the collection of web data include the cost of the 'black box' equipment ISPs would need to intercept all web communications, plus the cost of regularly updating algorithms to intercept web communications, according to LSE security expert Peter Sommer.

An ISP only sees a stream of data going into a particular home hub, and the data needs to be sorted out. Is it communications data or content? Are you asking ISPs to retain everything?

– Peter Sommer

"Companies like Facebook and Twitter regularly update their communications protocols," said Sommer. "Who are you going to get to update the [interception] algorithms? [Costs are] really a question of 'How long is a piece string?'"

"An ISP only sees a stream of data going into a particular home hub, and the data needs to be sorted out," said Sommer. "Is it communications data or content? Are you asking ISPs to retain everything?"

The government plans suggest that law enforcement would have to be given access to the data in a reasonable time frame, said Sommer.

"The plans imply the data is reasonably accessible and of a reasonable quality, not stuck on tapes in a cupboard on an industrial estate miles from anywhere," said Sommer. "There are practical problems quite aside from civil liberties issues."

Government commitment

Home Office minister James Brokenshire said on 9 February that the government was "committed to a free and open internet".

"It is also important that law enforcement has the necessary capabilities to assess and identify potential criminality disclosed through social media and other online communication platforms," Brokenshire said in a written parliamentary answer.

"Work is under way to consider how existing capabilities within law enforcement can be enhanced. We will consider any additional resource requirements in the light of this work."

BT said it would follow whatever legislation the government drew up.

"BT adheres to all legislation applying to its activities and co-operates fully with law enforcement agencies," the company said in a statement on Monday.